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misgive

verb
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mis·​give | \ ˌmis-ˈgiv How to pronounce misgive (audio) \
misgave\ ˌmis-​ˈgāv How to pronounce misgive (audio) \; misgiven\ ˌmis-​ˈgi-​vən How to pronounce misgive (audio) \; misgiving

Definition of misgive

transitive verb

: to suggest doubt or fear to

intransitive verb

: to be fearful or apprehensive

Examples of misgive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pompeo aired that misgiving about safety standards at Chinese labs while elaborating on President Trump’s frustration with the WHO. — Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2020 Not without a touch of misgiving, Edward heeds the advice of Alice and ventures into the unlocked house. — Washington Post, 6 June 2019 But White House officials expressed increasing misgiving about the scandals surrounding the former Oklahoma attorney general. — Louise Radnofsky, WSJ, 5 July 2018 An extraordinary painterly sensitivity expressed itself in the person of a young black male, the locus of terror and misgiving in a racist society. — Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 24 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'misgive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of misgive

circa 1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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Time Traveler for misgive

Time Traveler

The first known use of misgive was circa 1535

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Dictionary Entries Near misgive

misgender

misgive

misgiving

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Cite this Entry

“Misgive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misgive. Accessed 6 Jul. 2022.

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